Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box Score

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Brendan Murphy's penalty kick lifted the Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team past UNC-Asheville.  A late Asheville goal would force overtime, but the Norse would come away with the 2-1 victory in a late non-conference matchup.
 
The Norse came out of the gates in a very aggressive tone. Within the first two minutes of the game, NKU had taken two shoot attempts that included a shot from Nick Chiarot, which would test the Bulldogs' keeper Zak Davis. Davis made the save and he was called back in to action in the 9th-minute when Yaw Addai took a crack at goal. Addai's shot was well struck and on target, but it failed to trouble the opposition in the end.
 
The Bulldogs nearly took an early lead in the 22nd-minute when Kenny Lingerfelt took a free-kick that hit the post. The Norse defenders cleared the ball and relieved the pressure of the Asheville attack. Austin Pierce got two looks at goal in the 36th-minute but Davis was in good position to save both attempts and kept the score-line level.  Davis wouldn't be so lucky in the 41st-minute when Pierce played a give-and-go ball to Justin Wolstenholme who was able to slot the ball past the keeper and give the Norse the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
 
"Justin did a good job just sliding to the ball and tapping it in the net," said head coach John Basalyga. "It was a nice set up by Austin and a nice finish by Justin. Things like that happen when you are in the right place at the right time. It was a good goal and good play from both of the guys."
 
The Bulldogs came out in control during the second half and they cranked up the pressure on the Norse defenders. Though the Bulldogs were maintaining a lot of possession, it didn't turn in to many chances on goal. Nick Chiarot and Brendan Murphy each had a chance to extend the Norse lead but Davis made some key saves for Asheville, keeping the score 1-0 in favor of the Norse.
 
Asheville would find the equalizer in the 72nd-minute when an offensive sequence from Cole Schwietering and Quentin Reynolds would result in a ball played in the box to Tevin Beckwith. Beckwith was able to beat A.J. Fleak, who hadn't seen a lot of action during the game, to level things up, 1-1.
 
"The late goal showed the inconsistency of the team," said Basalyga. "They need adversity to sharpen up their game. Some teams function very well with that. This team has given up goals in late situations but they are still able to function that way. With the amount of overtimes we played this year, it just might be in their DNA to not quit."
 
Fleak was called on to save a shot from Grady Bradshaw in the 76th-minute as the Norse looked to be somewhat shell-shocked after giving up the equalizing goal. Murphy would get the last look at goal for either side in the 86th-minute but his shot sailed high of the target. The final whistle blew and the Norse would head into their tenth overtime of the season, one shy of tying the NCAA record.
 
Overtime showed signs of fatigue from both sides as offensive possession failed to turn in to chances. There was only one shot in the first overtime period and it came from Asheville's Lingerfelt. Fleak made the save and the first ten minutes would go by with nothing to separate the two sides.
 
The second overtime began with brief exchanges of possession until Mohammad Salhieh took the ball inside the penalty area in the 105th-minute. An Asheville defender committed a hard foul on Salhieh in the box, which would result in a penalty for the Norse with three minutes remaining. Senior captain Brednan Murphy would step up to take the spot kick and he converted, giving the Norse the 2-1 victory.
 
"It goes a long with the guys being focused," said Basalyga. "At times I pull my hair out but in the end some teams are made up to be comfortable in close situations. They thrive on tight games and they know how to finish them."
 
The Norse will return home on Saturday Nov. 2 to take on Mercer in their final home contest of the 2013 season. They will then conclude their season on Nov. 9 in Spartanburg, S.C. as they take on Atlantic Sun foe USC-Upstate. For updates on the NKU men's soccer team, follow @NKUNorseMSOC on Twitter.